AI DNA Similarity
Best Alternatives to Fábio Cardoso
Players most similar to Fábio Cardoso (Defender, €2.5M) — ranked by AI DNA similarity score across playing style, pressing intensity, and tactical fit.
Top 3 Alternatives to Fábio Cardoso
- 1.Alex Pinto87% DNA match·Farense
- 2.Manel Royo83% DNA match·Teruel
- 3.Leonardo Buta83% DNA match·Rio Ave
Ranked by AI DNA similarity — 768 dimensions across playing style, pressing intensity, and tactical fit.
Playing Style Analysis
Physical StopperAerial
Fábio Rafael Rodrigues Cardoso is a Physical Stopper. Aggressive defender who wins aerial and ground duels. Statistically, he stands out as commanding in the air (5.2 clearances/90) and wins the physical battle (56% duel success). The three most similar players to Fábio Cardoso by playing style are:
- Alex Pinto(87% match) — Carlos Alexandre Reis Pinto is a Defender. Solid defensive option. (Limited sample: 338 mins)
- Manel Royo(83% match) — Manel Royo Castell is a Defender. Solid defensive option. (Limited sample: 320 mins)
- Leonardo Buta(83% match) — A Active Full-Back. Statistically, he stands out as commanding in the air (4.2 clearances/90), wins the physical battle (55% duel success), draws fouls effectively (2.3/90) and active off the ball (2.0 press score/90), contributing to defensive transitions. Note: this profile is based on 515 minutes of playing time this season.
Similarity is calculated using per-90 performance data across multiple playing style dimensions. How Player DNA matching works →
Similar Players — Ranked by DNA Similarity
#1
A
Alex Pinto
Farense · Liga Portugal
Portugal27y
Tkl/901.33
KP/900.27
vs Cardoso: 5y younger
87% match
N/A
#2
M
Manel Royo
Teruel · Eredivisie
Spain32y
Tkl/900.00
KP/900.00
Small Sample
83% match
N/A
#3
L
Leonardo Buta
Rio Ave · Liga Portugal
Portugal23yContract 2026
Tkl/901.91
KP/900.52
Active Full-BackAerial
vs Cardoso: 9y younger
83% match
N/A
#4
J
Jonas Kehl
Sportfreunde Lotte · Bundesliga
Germany25y
Tkl/900.00
KP/900.00
Small Sample
83% match
N/A
#5
P
Pedro Pacheco
Santa Clara · Liga Portugal
Portugal29yContract 2028
Tkl/900.00
KP/900.00
Small Sample
83% match
N/A
#6
R
Roko Jureskin
Spartak Trnava · Serie A
Croatia25y
Tkl/901.57
KP/900.94
Small Sample
82% match
N/A
#7
J
Justin Janitzek
Wehen Wiesbaden · Bundesliga
Germany22y
Tkl/900.25
KP/900.00
Small Sample
82% match
N/A
#8
T
Tachi
Real Zaragoza · La Liga
Spain28y
Tkl/901.81
KP/900.90
Solid DefenderSmall Sample
81% match
N/A
#9
F
Fabian Holland
Darmstadt 98 · Bundesliga
Germany35yContract 2025
Tkl/903.98
KP/900.36
Active Full-Back
Last 5: ↓ Dip81% match
N/A
#10
G
Gonçalo do Lago Pontes Esteves
Udinese · Serie A
Portugal22y
Tkl/900.57
KP/900.57
Small Sample
Last 5: ↑ Hot82% match
N/A
#11
C
Carlos Vigaray
Teruel · La Liga
Spain31y
Tkl/902.09
KP/900.70
Solid DefenderSmall Sample
80% match
N/A
#12
E
Elfar Freyr Helgason
Valur · Superliga
Iceland36y
Tkl/900.00
KP/900.00
Small Sample
81% match
N/A
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Ask AI: Why are these players similar?
Our 768-dimension Player DNA model matches playing style, physical profile, pressing intensity, and tactical fit. Ask the AI to explain exactly what makes these players statistically similar to Fábio Cardoso.
Ask AI about Fábio Cardoso →Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the best alternatives to Fábio Cardoso?▼
The top alternatives to Fábio Cardoso based on AI DNA playing style analysis include: Alex Pinto, Manel Royo, Leonardo Buta, Jonas Kehl, Pedro Pacheco. These players were matched using Rising Transfers' 768-dimension DNA model across playing style, pressing intensity, and tactical fit — not just position or market value.
Which players are similar to Fábio Cardoso in 2026?▼
Players with a similar profile to Fábio Cardoso in 2026 include Alex Pinto (N/A), Manel Royo (N/A), Leonardo Buta (N/A). For a deeper DNA-level comparison including playing style, physical attributes, and tactical fit, ask Rising Transfers' AI directly.
What position does Fábio Cardoso play and who plays similarly?▼
Fábio Cardoso plays as a Defender. Players with a comparable positional profile include Alex Pinto (Portugal, N/A); Manel Royo (Spain, N/A); Leonardo Buta (Portugal, N/A); Jonas Kehl (Germany, N/A).
How does Rising Transfers find similar players?▼
Rising Transfers uses a proprietary 768-dimension Player DNA model trained on 3.2 million match events. Each player is represented as a vector across 35+ per-90 metrics including pressing intensity, passing footprint, dribbling profile, and defensive contribution. Similarity is measured using cosine distance — the same technique used in state-of-the-art AI systems — making it the most precise player comparison tool available publicly.